The Washington critic., 1887-06-20
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Says Worlds Washington special:
The sparrows are the most aggressive
birds that fly, and they obtrude them.
selves into all sorts OF unthoughtof
places for nesting. In an equestrian
statue of General Washington, stand.
ing on Pennsylvania avenue, a sparrow
last year built Its nest under the
crupper, where its brood would be pro.
tected by the flowing tail Of the bronze
horse. In Mcpherson square stands q
statue of General Mcpherson, and In
one Of the stirrups patriotic swallow
last year built Its nest. In the same
statue the park watchman recently
found nest under the Generals arm.
In the Smithsonian Park l recently saw
an abandoned street lamp in which
sparrow had built its nest. During the
recent National Drill public spirited
citizen desired to fire salute from an
old cannon on his ground Ia honor of
one of the visiting companies, but was
interrupted by the discovery of birds
nest In the rusty old guns muzzle. A
doctor In the city found the skull of
one of his skeletons similarly occupied.
the birds had invaded the garret of the
Pension building by means of broken
pane. He said they would build nest
proof related how, on lowering the
awnings over the windows, after they
had been left up day or two, he had
seen the sparrows' nests fall down from
them.
~.
Mr.. ]. NJ. Smithee, writing from
Washington to the Little Rock Gazette,
corrects the statement of that paper that
Pasco of Florida and Jones of Arkansas
are the only Confederate privates ever
elected to the United States Senate.
He says: Mistaken. John L. Kenna
of West Virginia ran away from home,
wandered into the Confederate lines
and Joined the Confederate forces as a
private early in the war. He was q
STRIPPING Of boy, and the grand bust
up found him an orderly detailed at
the headquarters of the late Major
John b. Burton of Texarkana, then q
division quartermaster in the Confed.
crate army. Many of your readers will
remember jolly Jim Johnson-once in
the State Senate from Lafayette
County. He was then and during the
war resident of Lewisvllle, and a
captain and assistant quartermaster.
Jim - now long since gone to
his eternal rest-was brother
Of the equally jolly Ben. w.
johnson, now of Camden, and had q
heart as big as all out doors. AT the
surrender Kenna, young beardless
boy, away from home, without friends,
and with clothes all tattered and torn
was sent by Major Burton with some
message to Captain johnson. The lat
ter viewed Kenna in his rags, his youth
full face, asked him few question:
and said Young man, l haven't got
much, but come here and get one OF
my pairs of old pants. They will hide
your nakedness at least II is the best
can do. And Kenna took the pants
and to this day blcsses the memory ol
Jim Johnson
~
Robert Fullerton's old English curl
osity shop in Third avenue, New York
is an interesting place. Strolllng by
there the other day, Tribune reporter
discovered In the window striking
Photographic portrait of Roscoe Conk
ling, half life size. On inquiry of thu
old curiosity dealer 1t was learned tha
he had purchased the portrait at til,
sale of the late President Arthur!
household goods. He paid 1915 fol
1t, a much less sum than the handsom,
frame is worth. He was assured at til,
time he made the purchase that thu
photograph was present made bJ
Mr.. Conkling to General Arthur il
1880.
~.
Says the New York Graphic: Colone
James Duffy is one of the best.knowl
men in Central Pennsylvania. He |
the intimate friend and business asso
ciate of Simon Cameron, and two o
three times year gathers on his farm
near Marietta, on the line of the oil
Pennsylvania Road, any number o
men prominent In politics and socia
life for couple of days healthy en-
joyment. He has one Of the fine;
farms and some of the best stock Il
the State, and keeps a chef in his hi
country farmhouse that tickles tn
palate of such connoisseurs as Rosco
Conkling, the urbane Charles A. Dan
and the Lotos loving Whitelaw Reid
who are often among his guests. Th
Colonel is drifting towards his 1Ot
year, is tall, finely made man, full c
life and vigor yet, and is just as cleal
eyed as he used to be nearly half
century ago, when he piloted RATS q
logs on the SusQuehanna River froi
Marietta to the Breakwater. He WI
at the Hoffman House last night, an
was the centre of group of prom
nent people, many of whom had bee
his guests at the great farmhouse ovt
in Pennsylvania.